Baseball players have a lot of down time, so a lot of them have started Live Journals.
Thanks to Daryl for compiling names and links. The important ones:
Arroyo, Bellhorn, Damon, Millar, Mirabelli, Varitek and Theo
A-Rod, Jeter, Matsui, Posada, R. Johnson, Sturtze and Bubba Crosby
Pedro and Mientkiewicz and Clemens and Nomar
Click on these and ... well, good luck getting any work done today.
May 6, 2005
G28: Red Sox 2, Tigers 1
Bronson Arroyo can keep denying it, but he is the team's ace right now. Yesterday afternoon, he took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and finished with eight innings of three-hit ball. He struck out a season-high eight batters. David Ortiz's two-out double to deep center in the top of the ninth brought home Trot Nixon with the deciding run, as the Red Sox finished their short road trip with a 5-2 record.
Arroyo: "It was one of those games where I actually came in the clubhouse today and I was feeling [nauseated]. Before I went out there I was feeling like I was going to throw up or something. After I got done warming up in the pen, it was probably the best I felt physically all year." ... Arroyo's streak of 15 straight starts without a loss is the longest active run in the majors.
One scout at the game was quoted by the Globe: "You see a slider like that once in a blue moon. Honestly. You don't see a guy be that consistent with that pitch as often as Arroyo was. When you can throw it, or throw a breaking ball behind on the count and you trust yourself that much, that confidence is going to win you games. There's not much not to like about this kid." ... Kevin Youkilis agrees: "When he's got that sharp bite on his ball, he's deadly. He's got some of the best breaking stuff in the league."
Arroyo kept his pitch count low (only 68 through six innings) and was helped by two outstanding defensive plays in the fifth inning. Kevin Millar short-hopped a smash from Carlos Pena near the first base line and three pitches later, Jay Payton raced into the left field corner to snag Marcus Thames's fly ball. It seemed like those would be plays to look back on if Arroyo did complete the no-no, but with one out in the seventh, Carlos Guillen poked an inside breaking pitch just over the right field wall, ending the no-hitter and tying the game at 1-1.
With two outs in the ninth, Nixon's pop-up dropped into short right center and Ortiz walloped a low Urbina fastball over Nook Logan's head in center for an RBI-double. Ortiz: "I was praying just to get a hit, man. ... If I don't hit, it's like I'm stealing money. I'm just glad I got that RBI for Bronson. He pitched unbelievable, man." ... Damon: "I told [Ortiz] he doesn't want a leadoff hitter to catch him in RBI, so he's going to get going."
Keith Foulke retired Detroit's 3-4-5 hitters in order for his seventh save. ... Edgar Renteria left the game in the second inning. The ball bruised his right index finger and he thinks he'll be able to play tonight. Why was he bunting in the first place? Jason Varitek had opened the inning with a double. It didn't look like Renteria was bunting for a hit, but the situation was about as far away as you could get from a Red Sox sacrifice spot. ... Payton took over and slapped the first pitch he saw to center, which gave Boston its first run.
Jon Lieber tells Tim McCarver that before last year's ALCS Game 4, some unidentified Red Sox players "congratulated" some unidentified Yankee players on a sweep. It would help his credibility if Lieber could have put even one name to this alleged incident. ... Or maybe this was merely part of the Sox's grand psy-ops ploy to put pressure on the Yankees?
The Yankees lost to Tampa Bay (again) last night 6-2. ... The Times calls them "a collection of faded stars who have crash-landed in the basement of the American League East. ... Joe Torre called another team meeting Thursday ... at least the third meeting the Yankees have had since April 17 ... With an 11-18 record, the Yankees are on pace to go 61-101, the reverse of their record last season. The Yankees have not lost 100 games since 1912, two years before Joe DiMaggio was born."
Mike Vaccaro, Post, says the Yankees look
The Mariners visit Fenway:
Arroyo: "It was one of those games where I actually came in the clubhouse today and I was feeling [nauseated]. Before I went out there I was feeling like I was going to throw up or something. After I got done warming up in the pen, it was probably the best I felt physically all year." ... Arroyo's streak of 15 straight starts without a loss is the longest active run in the majors.
One scout at the game was quoted by the Globe: "You see a slider like that once in a blue moon. Honestly. You don't see a guy be that consistent with that pitch as often as Arroyo was. When you can throw it, or throw a breaking ball behind on the count and you trust yourself that much, that confidence is going to win you games. There's not much not to like about this kid." ... Kevin Youkilis agrees: "When he's got that sharp bite on his ball, he's deadly. He's got some of the best breaking stuff in the league."
Arroyo kept his pitch count low (only 68 through six innings) and was helped by two outstanding defensive plays in the fifth inning. Kevin Millar short-hopped a smash from Carlos Pena near the first base line and three pitches later, Jay Payton raced into the left field corner to snag Marcus Thames's fly ball. It seemed like those would be plays to look back on if Arroyo did complete the no-no, but with one out in the seventh, Carlos Guillen poked an inside breaking pitch just over the right field wall, ending the no-hitter and tying the game at 1-1.
With two outs in the ninth, Nixon's pop-up dropped into short right center and Ortiz walloped a low Urbina fastball over Nook Logan's head in center for an RBI-double. Ortiz: "I was praying just to get a hit, man. ... If I don't hit, it's like I'm stealing money. I'm just glad I got that RBI for Bronson. He pitched unbelievable, man." ... Damon: "I told [Ortiz] he doesn't want a leadoff hitter to catch him in RBI, so he's going to get going."
Keith Foulke retired Detroit's 3-4-5 hitters in order for his seventh save. ... Edgar Renteria left the game in the second inning. The ball bruised his right index finger and he thinks he'll be able to play tonight. Why was he bunting in the first place? Jason Varitek had opened the inning with a double. It didn't look like Renteria was bunting for a hit, but the situation was about as far away as you could get from a Red Sox sacrifice spot. ... Payton took over and slapped the first pitch he saw to center, which gave Boston its first run.
Jon Lieber tells Tim McCarver that before last year's ALCS Game 4, some unidentified Red Sox players "congratulated" some unidentified Yankee players on a sweep. It would help his credibility if Lieber could have put even one name to this alleged incident. ... Or maybe this was merely part of the Sox's grand psy-ops ploy to put pressure on the Yankees?
The Yankees lost to Tampa Bay (again) last night 6-2. ... The Times calls them "a collection of faded stars who have crash-landed in the basement of the American League East. ... Joe Torre called another team meeting Thursday ... at least the third meeting the Yankees have had since April 17 ... With an 11-18 record, the Yankees are on pace to go 61-101, the reverse of their record last season. The Yankees have not lost 100 games since 1912, two years before Joe DiMaggio was born."
Mike Vaccaro, Post, says the Yankees look
like an out-of-control amusement park ride, speeding off on its own misdirection, unsure of the twists and turns looming straight ahead. Each night, a fresh batch of slapstick gets thrown into the recipe. ... The Yankees are playing lousy, uninspired, stupid baseball. ...Whee! I am so loving this! The problems the Yankees are having have been obvious for awhile, yet they did absolutely nothing to address them over the winter. And they have very few options to deal with them now. I mean, how many pitchers can they call up from AA? Things are, in a word, Torreble.
Last night alone, Alex Rodriguez dropped a pop fly, which led directly to two D-Rays runs; Jorge Posada got caught off second base on a ground ball hit in front of him, thwarting the Yanks' last rally; an inning later when Posada threw to second base trying to catch a runner stealing, nobody covered the bag; and pitcher Chien-Ming Wang froze on a comebacker, failing to get the lead runner with men on first and second, and two runs followed. ... This isn't just a slump anymore. It's looking more and more like the start of a long, hot, empty summer. And summer doesn't even get here for another six weeks.
The Mariners visit Fenway:
Tonight: Matt Clement / Jamie Moyer, 7:00
Saturday: Jeremi Gonzalez / Joel Pineiro, 7:00
Sunday: Wade Miller / Ryan Franklin, 2:00
May 5, 2005
G27: Red Sox 4, Tigers 3
I was feeling way too nervous with Keith Foulke on the mound in the ninth inning last night. The potential winning run was standing at the plate, but it was only Ramon Martinez and the calendar said May 4. So why was my heart racing?
Martinez popped up down the right field line and Jay Payton zipped over to make a nice running basket catch and the win was secured. Tim Wakefield pitched seven innings, "scattering" 10 hits -- five of them in the fifth inning! Mike Timlin threw a perfect eighth, helped by an amazing play by Edgar Renteria, going to the hole (after shading the batter, Rondell White, towards second base) and firing a perfect throw to first. In the ninth, Foulke allowed a two-out single, but got the save.
Kevin Youkilis continues to tear it up at the plate. The Sox are 4-1 since he was recalled. Subbing for Bill Mueller, Yook walked once and singled twice, that base hit driving in Payton with the eighth inning run that made the difference. Johnny Damon collected three more hits and Mark Bellhorn singled twice and walked.
Manny Ramirez continues to look absolutely lost in this series, batting only 2-for-11 -- and that includes two starts against left-handed pitchers. He may get his first day off today.
No, George Steinbrenner did not demand the head of Brian Cashman. ... Well, not yet.
The Yankees lost to the Devil Rays yet again, 11-8. Starter Sean Henn threw 72 pitches and recorded only seven outs, Robinson Cano's throwing error led to two runs. New York has lost six of its last eight games and is six games under .500 for the first time since July 19, 1995.
Mike Vaccaro, Post:
Martinez popped up down the right field line and Jay Payton zipped over to make a nice running basket catch and the win was secured. Tim Wakefield pitched seven innings, "scattering" 10 hits -- five of them in the fifth inning! Mike Timlin threw a perfect eighth, helped by an amazing play by Edgar Renteria, going to the hole (after shading the batter, Rondell White, towards second base) and firing a perfect throw to first. In the ninth, Foulke allowed a two-out single, but got the save.
Kevin Youkilis continues to tear it up at the plate. The Sox are 4-1 since he was recalled. Subbing for Bill Mueller, Yook walked once and singled twice, that base hit driving in Payton with the eighth inning run that made the difference. Johnny Damon collected three more hits and Mark Bellhorn singled twice and walked.
Manny Ramirez continues to look absolutely lost in this series, batting only 2-for-11 -- and that includes two starts against left-handed pitchers. He may get his first day off today.
No, George Steinbrenner did not demand the head of Brian Cashman. ... Well, not yet.
The Yankees lost to the Devil Rays yet again, 11-8. Starter Sean Henn threw 72 pitches and recorded only seven outs, Robinson Cano's throwing error led to two runs. New York has lost six of its last eight games and is six games under .500 for the first time since July 19, 1995.
Mike Vaccaro, Post:
Was it rock bottom? For now it was. But as the Yankees have shown all across this most dyspeptic spring, they keep re-inventing the definition of rock bottom.Bronson Arroyo / Jason Johnson at 1:00.
"Sooner or later," Joe Torre said, "something has to happen. Something has to change."
That's what fuels the Yankees now, a raw belief based on past circumstance. This is nonsense, of course, since the Yankees haven't looked this wretched this often since Stump Merrill was monitoring Don Mattingly's grooming habits. Every day they arrive at the ballpark, cloaked in the belief that things can't get any worse.
Except it keeps getting worse.
May 4, 2005
G26: Red Sox 5, Tigers 3
John Halama did his job. Five innings, four hits, no walks, two runs. He thought he might have been able to pitch the sixth, but after 86 pitches, his night was over.
Matt Mantei walked two in the sixth but got out of trouble, Mike Timlin pitched the seventh and eighth and Keith Foulke took the ninth (and gave up another home run, a solo shot to the first guy he faced, Marcus Thames, on a pitch up around Thames's eyes).
Thinking he needed some extra at-bats, Terry Francona started Doug Mirabelli at DH, giving David Ortiz the day off. Mirabelli belted a grand slam in the fifth inning. In the inning, six of the seven Sox batters reached base (there were two fielder's choices). Jason Varitek singled in the team's other run, in the first inning. Edgar Renteria was on base in each of his first three plate appearances (two singles, walk).
Wade Miller pitched 5.2 innings for Pawtucket last night, allowing five hits and four runs. He fanned seven, throwing 95 pitches. Afterwards, he said that Theo Epstein had told him he would start on Sunday against Seattle. ... Jeremi Gonzalez makes his second start on Saturday.
In New York, Red Sox chairman Tom Werner presented Pedro Martinez and Doug Mientkiewicz with their World Series rings. Pedro: "I am very happy and I am very proud to actually receive this ring. Like I said before, I don't think there is ever going to be a better pleasure for me than to be a part of that team that actually won it. Well, tell everyone that I was really proud. And I'm really happy. I finally got it." [Daily News and Times]
Tim Wakefield / Nate Robertson at 7:00.
Matt Mantei walked two in the sixth but got out of trouble, Mike Timlin pitched the seventh and eighth and Keith Foulke took the ninth (and gave up another home run, a solo shot to the first guy he faced, Marcus Thames, on a pitch up around Thames's eyes).
Thinking he needed some extra at-bats, Terry Francona started Doug Mirabelli at DH, giving David Ortiz the day off. Mirabelli belted a grand slam in the fifth inning. In the inning, six of the seven Sox batters reached base (there were two fielder's choices). Jason Varitek singled in the team's other run, in the first inning. Edgar Renteria was on base in each of his first three plate appearances (two singles, walk).
Wade Miller pitched 5.2 innings for Pawtucket last night, allowing five hits and four runs. He fanned seven, throwing 95 pitches. Afterwards, he said that Theo Epstein had told him he would start on Sunday against Seattle. ... Jeremi Gonzalez makes his second start on Saturday.
In New York, Red Sox chairman Tom Werner presented Pedro Martinez and Doug Mientkiewicz with their World Series rings. Pedro: "I am very happy and I am very proud to actually receive this ring. Like I said before, I don't think there is ever going to be a better pleasure for me than to be a part of that team that actually won it. Well, tell everyone that I was really proud. And I'm really happy. I finally got it." [Daily News and Times]
Tim Wakefield / Nate Robertson at 7:00.
Former Red Sox Pitcher: Steroids Rampant in 1960 and 1970s
Former relief pitcher Tom House tells Ron Kroichick of the San Francisco Chronicle that performance-enhancing drugs and steroids were widespread in baseball in the 1960s and 1970s. House pitched for eight years (1971-78), including the Red Sox in 1976 and 1977.
House: "I pretty much popped everything cold turkey. We were doing steroids they wouldn't give to horses. ... I tried everything known to man to improve my fastball ... [We used to say] we didn't get beat, we got out-milligrammed. And when you found out what they were taking, you started taking them."
House estimates that six or seven pitchers on every staff were "fiddling" with steroids or growth hormone. I can only assume that a lot of the hitters on every team were also fiddling, if only to keep pace with whatever advantage they believed the opposing pitchers might be getting.
House: "I pretty much popped everything cold turkey. We were doing steroids they wouldn't give to horses. ... I tried everything known to man to improve my fastball ... [We used to say] we didn't get beat, we got out-milligrammed. And when you found out what they were taking, you started taking them."
House estimates that six or seven pitchers on every staff were "fiddling" with steroids or growth hormone. I can only assume that a lot of the hitters on every team were also fiddling, if only to keep pace with whatever advantage they believed the opposing pitchers might be getting.
Schadenfreude
Kevin Brown faced 11 Tampa Bay batters in the first inning last night -- six of them scored. The Yankees managed only one baserunner in the final four innings (a solo home run) and lost 11-4. ... Headlines:
Finally, thieves hijacked a shipment of 47,000 caps scheduled to be given away this weekend at Yankee Stadium.
Yankees Are Growing Old Ungracefully (Times)George King, Post:
Yanks Paying A High Price For Fading Stars (Times)
Yankees Remain Brown In Dumps (Post)
New Look, Old Stink (Post)
New Yankees, Same Brown (Daily News)
Brown was so putrid that if he were one of George Steinbrenner's thoroughbreds he would be on the way to the glue factory.Mike Lupica, Daily News:
Suddenly on the $200 million Yankees, Andy Phillips is a player of some significance. Buddy Groom is a pitcher of some significance. A kid out of Double-A named Sean Henn goes tonight. Another rookie pitcher, Chien-Ming Wang, goes tomorrow night. This all happens to the best team Yankee money can buy. While the rest of baseball looks on with pretty much the same reaction: Boo hoo.Randy Johnson is miffed at the decision to not let him start tonight (Sean Henn, up from AA, will try not to lay an egg.) Yesterday, Johnson told reporters his groin "feels fine. I could have started."
Finally, thieves hijacked a shipment of 47,000 caps scheduled to be given away this weekend at Yankee Stadium.
May 3, 2005
G25: Tigers 8, Red Sox 3
Top of the fourth, bases loaded, no outs. Trot Nixon, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz due up against Jeremy Bonderman. Boston had scored three times in the previous inning, getting the first five batters on base and tying the game at 3-3.
Nixon popped a 1-1 pitch to left, too shallow for Bill Mueller to score on. Manny struck out on three pitches. Ortiz fell behind 1-2 and tapped a routine grounder to second. The Red Sox (now 13-12) left a total of 14 men on base.
Jeremi Gonzalez pitched well, leaving after five innings with the score till tied. Francona thought the sixth was too early for the better arms in the pen, so he summoned Blaine Neal, who hadn't worked in a week. Neal walked Craig Monroe on four pitches, then gave up a home run to Carlos Pena. Marcus Thmas singled, and after a sacrifice bunt, Neal's night was through. Thanks for playing, shithead. ... Lenny DiNardo might have been a better option (he did make a cameo in the ninth).
Matt Mantei struck out three in 1.2 innings, before Alan Embree brought his gas can to the hill in the eighth. Embree faced six batters, allowing a single, two doubles (to Detroit's 8-9 hitters) and a home run (Pena again), and three runs. And then Embree was pulled -- for another lefty (DiNardo)!
Three runs from Boston -- all in the third inning -- was a pretty pathetic showing for 11 hits (including five doubles and a triple) and five walks. The Tigers retired the Sox in order only once (in the first). Boston got a runner to second base in six of the nine innings. ... Millar went 2-for-4, but he really needs to be moved down in the order. Even switching him and Varitek in the 5-6 spots would help.
With the Red Sox set to face two lefties -- Mike Maroth tonight and Nate Robertson Wednesday -- Trot Nixon is considering dropping his appeal and serving his two-game suspension. ... Mark Bellhorn may be back tonight.
To make room for Gonzalez, David McCarty was designated for assignment. John Olerud may be ready to join the Sox in two weeks. Until then, Youkilis can play some first if necessary. ... Wade Miller makes what everyone hopes is his final rehab start tonight for Pawtucket. He's in line to start Sunday at Fenway.
Sully at The House That Dewey Built has a good analysis of April:
Nixon popped a 1-1 pitch to left, too shallow for Bill Mueller to score on. Manny struck out on three pitches. Ortiz fell behind 1-2 and tapped a routine grounder to second. The Red Sox (now 13-12) left a total of 14 men on base.
Jeremi Gonzalez pitched well, leaving after five innings with the score till tied. Francona thought the sixth was too early for the better arms in the pen, so he summoned Blaine Neal, who hadn't worked in a week. Neal walked Craig Monroe on four pitches, then gave up a home run to Carlos Pena. Marcus Thmas singled, and after a sacrifice bunt, Neal's night was through. Thanks for playing, shithead. ... Lenny DiNardo might have been a better option (he did make a cameo in the ninth).
Matt Mantei struck out three in 1.2 innings, before Alan Embree brought his gas can to the hill in the eighth. Embree faced six batters, allowing a single, two doubles (to Detroit's 8-9 hitters) and a home run (Pena again), and three runs. And then Embree was pulled -- for another lefty (DiNardo)!
Three runs from Boston -- all in the third inning -- was a pretty pathetic showing for 11 hits (including five doubles and a triple) and five walks. The Tigers retired the Sox in order only once (in the first). Boston got a runner to second base in six of the nine innings. ... Millar went 2-for-4, but he really needs to be moved down in the order. Even switching him and Varitek in the 5-6 spots would help.
With the Red Sox set to face two lefties -- Mike Maroth tonight and Nate Robertson Wednesday -- Trot Nixon is considering dropping his appeal and serving his two-game suspension. ... Mark Bellhorn may be back tonight.
To make room for Gonzalez, David McCarty was designated for assignment. John Olerud may be ready to join the Sox in two weeks. Until then, Youkilis can play some first if necessary. ... Wade Miller makes what everyone hopes is his final rehab start tonight for Pawtucket. He's in line to start Sunday at Fenway.
Sully at The House That Dewey Built has a good analysis of April:
The Red Sox are 13-11 and four games out of first place. They have scored 136 runs and yielded 109. If you were to extrapolate those totals over the course of the year and apply the Pythagorean Formula, the Red Sox would end up as a 99-win team. That's remarkable to me. ... At the same time, I don't want to just gloss over the legitimate and numerous causes for concern. ... [J]ust trying to be the measured guy in a town full of too hot and too cold whackos.John Halama starts tonight, with a pitch limit of about 80 (the most pitches he's thrown this season in relief is 34). "It's going to be new. I've never been stretched out this year. I hope I can go five innings." Oh boy. That sounds encouraging. Game time is 7:00.
What A Drag It Is Getting Old
NYDN:
"After 25 [games], I don't want to see it anymore," [Brian] Cashman said. "I want to be on top of it while we're going through some rough times." ... Cashman is normally placid and deliberate in his tone, but his words yesterday had an edge. ... "I'm not happy with how things have unraveled."So ...:
Hideki Matsui is moving to center field.Cano is a decent prospect, but this seems like nothing more than rearranging the deck chairs. Which, if they insist on making changes, is the only thing the Yankees can do at this point.
Bernie Williams (right elbow tendinitis) will split time at DH with Jason Giambi, creating quite possible the most expensive platoon in history ($26 million this season).
Tony Womack will play left field (where he has not played a single inning in his 12-year career).
Robinson Cano arrives from Columbus (AAA) to be the regular second baseman.
Randy Johnson will miss his start against Tampa tomorrow night because of stiffness in his left groin and could wind up on the DL.
Sean Henn will be called up from Trenton (AA) to take Johnson's place.
With Tanyon Sturtze coming off the DL, Steve Karsay was designated for assignment.
May 2, 2005
7.5 GB
The only teams further out of first place than the Yankees:
Tampa Bay
Cleveland
Kansas City
Colorado
G24: Red Sox 6, Rangers 5
Not much today (and it's late too). Matt Clement's control problems returned on Sunday. In six innings, he threw 111 pitches -- 55 in the first two innings -- and walked four. In his last inning, he was bailed out of a bases loaded, one out jam by a nifty Youkilis-to-Mueller-to-Millar double play.
Keith Foulke allowed two-run homer in the ninth, but after seeing the game on tape, I don't think it's anything to get worried about. Sandy "Yes, I'm Still Alive" Alomar grounded out to short for the first out. David Dellucci flicked a 1-2 pitch to the opposite field (left) for a single and Michael Young flied to right. Mark Teixeira hit a high fastball into the right field stands to bring the Rangers within one run, but Foulke ended the game by striking out Hank Blalock and making him look somewhat silly in the process.
Teixeria's a good hitter -- plain and simple -- and it was his 7th homer of the young season. The rest of the inning, coupled with Foulke's 1-2-3 inning on Saturday, makes me think Foulke is fine.
John Olerud signed a minor league contract and has reported to Fort Myers. Cheap insurance.
On to Detroit: Jeremi Gonzalez / Jeremy Bonderman at 7:00.
Keith Foulke allowed two-run homer in the ninth, but after seeing the game on tape, I don't think it's anything to get worried about. Sandy "Yes, I'm Still Alive" Alomar grounded out to short for the first out. David Dellucci flicked a 1-2 pitch to the opposite field (left) for a single and Michael Young flied to right. Mark Teixeira hit a high fastball into the right field stands to bring the Rangers within one run, but Foulke ended the game by striking out Hank Blalock and making him look somewhat silly in the process.
Teixeria's a good hitter -- plain and simple -- and it was his 7th homer of the young season. The rest of the inning, coupled with Foulke's 1-2-3 inning on Saturday, makes me think Foulke is fine.
John Olerud signed a minor league contract and has reported to Fort Myers. Cheap insurance.
On to Detroit: Jeremi Gonzalez / Jeremy Bonderman at 7:00.
May 1, 2005
G23: Red Sox 9, Rangers 2
He may be unassuming and not so overpowering, but Bronson Arroyo keeps winning games for the Red Sox.
Boston has won 13 of Arroyo's last 14 regular-season starts, dating back to August 15, 2004, so is he the club's new stopper? "Don't ever call me that. Until I win 20 games, don't call me that."
Last night, Arroyo pitched seven innings, allowing only five hits, one walk and two runs. Mike Timlin needed seven pitches to retire the Rangers in the eighth and Keith Foulke needed ten in the ninth, striking out two of the three batters he faced. The Rangers' 5-6-7-8-9 hitters had just one walk in 17 plate appearances.
And the bats returned: Johnny Damon had three hits, including his first home run, and four RBI; Trot Nixon also hit a home run (back-to-back with Damon); Manny Ramirez reached base three times (and made a very nice catch at the wall in the ninth); Kevin Youkilis returned to the lineup by going 3-for-4 with two RBI; and Bill Mueller (playing second base) singled, walked four times and scored three runs.
Not much more to say about this one -- I saw only the last four innings -- but the way the Sox began the eighth was something I hope we see more of in May:
ProJo says infielder Alejandro Machado is on his way from Pawtucket to Texas. In 19 games, he hit .310 and made no errors at second. ... John Halama will start on Tuesday, not tomorrow -- because he pitched in relief on Friday. Jeremi Gonzalez is still expected to be summoned for Monday night's game, but there has been no announcement yet.
Yesterday's Yankees starter, Chien-Ming Wang, is only the third major-leaguer from Taiwan and the first to play in the American League. Outfielder Chin-Feng Chen (who saw limited action for the 2002-04 Dodgers) and Colorado pitcher Chin-hui Tsao are the other two. Wang pitched seven innings, holding the Jays to six singles and two runs.
End of April East standings:
Boston has won 13 of Arroyo's last 14 regular-season starts, dating back to August 15, 2004, so is he the club's new stopper? "Don't ever call me that. Until I win 20 games, don't call me that."
Last night, Arroyo pitched seven innings, allowing only five hits, one walk and two runs. Mike Timlin needed seven pitches to retire the Rangers in the eighth and Keith Foulke needed ten in the ninth, striking out two of the three batters he faced. The Rangers' 5-6-7-8-9 hitters had just one walk in 17 plate appearances.
And the bats returned: Johnny Damon had three hits, including his first home run, and four RBI; Trot Nixon also hit a home run (back-to-back with Damon); Manny Ramirez reached base three times (and made a very nice catch at the wall in the ninth); Kevin Youkilis returned to the lineup by going 3-for-4 with two RBI; and Bill Mueller (playing second base) singled, walked four times and scored three runs.
Not much more to say about this one -- I saw only the last four innings -- but the way the Sox began the eighth was something I hope we see more of in May:
singlePlayer rep Damon supports Bud Selig's proposal for a 50-game suspension for a first positive steroid test, 100 games for a second and banned from the game for a third. "Fifty games, you better wise up because 50 games without pay, you're losing a year if you're a free agent. You're really going to be in trouble. That's a very strong indication how we do want steroids out of this game."
single
walk
single
single
single
ProJo says infielder Alejandro Machado is on his way from Pawtucket to Texas. In 19 games, he hit .310 and made no errors at second. ... John Halama will start on Tuesday, not tomorrow -- because he pitched in relief on Friday. Jeremi Gonzalez is still expected to be summoned for Monday night's game, but there has been no announcement yet.
Yesterday's Yankees starter, Chien-Ming Wang, is only the third major-leaguer from Taiwan and the first to play in the American League. Outfielder Chin-Feng Chen (who saw limited action for the 2002-04 Dodgers) and Colorado pitcher Chin-hui Tsao are the other two. Wang pitched seven innings, holding the Jays to six singles and two runs.
End of April East standings:
Matt Clement / Ryan Drese at 2:00.Baltimore 16 7 -
Boston 12 11 4
Toronto 13 12 4
New York 10 14 6½
Tampa Bay 8 16 8½
April 30, 2005
Red Sox Blog Nation Speaks
Brian at Friendly Fenway has posted his second batch of questions and answers from various Red Sox bloggers about how things are going this season. ... Read it here. (The first one is here.)
He also writes quick and informative wrapups/updates of Boston's minor league teams. His April 26 entry is a great example.
He also writes quick and informative wrapups/updates of Boston's minor league teams. His April 26 entry is a great example.
G22: Rangers 7, Red Sox 2
Pathetic. Sleepwalking in the outfield, hacking away early in the count right up to the very end, and a bit of bonehead managing. Oh, it was a great night in Arlington.
Miscommunication between Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez in left center led to a Texas run in the first inning. Boston took the lead back in the fourth. Ramirez and David Ortiz both walked with two outs and Kevin Millar tripled to right center to bring them in.
After a leadoff double in the second inning, Tim Wakefield retired the next 12 batters. In the sixth, he ran into trouble. Dave Dellucci singled and after getting the next two Rangers, Hank Blalock singled, tying the game. Then Alfonso Soriano belted a flat knuckleball to deep left and Texas led 4-2.
Brad Mills, who will be filling in for Terry Francona for the entire series, goofed when he pulled Wakefield and brought in Mike Myers with one out in the seventh. Dellucci was up with a man on second. Seeing Myers, Buck Showalter sent up a right-handed hitter. Chad Allen then singled the runner home -- righties are now 4-for-4 against Myers this year.
The Boston bats were absent against Chan Ho Park and Ron Mahay. How absent?
Five of the nine Red Sox batters did not hit the ball out of the infield: Ramirez, Ortiz, Edgar Renteria, Bill Mueller and Ramon Vazquez.
Boston had only three hits: Damon's single to begin the game (an infield hit deflected off Park to the shortstop, whose throw was a little too late), Millar's triple in the fourth (which hit solidly off the top of Gary Matthews's glove in right center and was catchable) and Doug Mirabelli's single in the fifth (which Matthews, sliding in shallow right, probably should have caught). Bah.
Tim Bausher was called up Thursday, threw in the Sox pen during last night's game and was sent back to Pawtucket. With Mark Bellhorn now having flu-like symptoms, Kevin Youkilis will be in Texas this evening. In a dozen games with the PawSox, Youkilis batted .227 (10-for-44) with eight walks. ... (P.S. Bausher's agent is Billy Martin, Jr.)
John Halama pitched the eighth inning, allowing three hits and two runs. He also let Blalock get a huge jump in stealing second. Should be fun watching him in Detroit on Monday.
Wade Miller had another successful rehab start on Thursday night: five scoreless innings against Scranton/Wilkes Barre. He allowed five hits (two of them infield squibs) and two walks. He will make one more AAA start, Tuesday against Rochester, and then join the Red Sox. He could make his debut on May 8 against Seattle.
Every suspended Red Sock and Devil Ray was also fined $3,000, although Piniella's fine was knocked down to $2,500. Ortiz and Singleton were each fined $500.
In the Bronx, both Roy Halladay and Randy Johnson pitched complete games last night, as Toronto won 2-0 in a zippy 2:08. The Yankees are 9-14, only the second time during Joe Torre's tenure the team has been five games below .500 (they were 5-10 on April 17, 1997).
Bronson Arroyo / Pedro Astacio at 8:00.
Miscommunication between Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez in left center led to a Texas run in the first inning. Boston took the lead back in the fourth. Ramirez and David Ortiz both walked with two outs and Kevin Millar tripled to right center to bring them in.
After a leadoff double in the second inning, Tim Wakefield retired the next 12 batters. In the sixth, he ran into trouble. Dave Dellucci singled and after getting the next two Rangers, Hank Blalock singled, tying the game. Then Alfonso Soriano belted a flat knuckleball to deep left and Texas led 4-2.
Brad Mills, who will be filling in for Terry Francona for the entire series, goofed when he pulled Wakefield and brought in Mike Myers with one out in the seventh. Dellucci was up with a man on second. Seeing Myers, Buck Showalter sent up a right-handed hitter. Chad Allen then singled the runner home -- righties are now 4-for-4 against Myers this year.
The Boston bats were absent against Chan Ho Park and Ron Mahay. How absent?
Five of the nine Red Sox batters did not hit the ball out of the infield: Ramirez, Ortiz, Edgar Renteria, Bill Mueller and Ramon Vazquez.
Boston had only three hits: Damon's single to begin the game (an infield hit deflected off Park to the shortstop, whose throw was a little too late), Millar's triple in the fourth (which hit solidly off the top of Gary Matthews's glove in right center and was catchable) and Doug Mirabelli's single in the fifth (which Matthews, sliding in shallow right, probably should have caught). Bah.
Tim Bausher was called up Thursday, threw in the Sox pen during last night's game and was sent back to Pawtucket. With Mark Bellhorn now having flu-like symptoms, Kevin Youkilis will be in Texas this evening. In a dozen games with the PawSox, Youkilis batted .227 (10-for-44) with eight walks. ... (P.S. Bausher's agent is Billy Martin, Jr.)
John Halama pitched the eighth inning, allowing three hits and two runs. He also let Blalock get a huge jump in stealing second. Should be fun watching him in Detroit on Monday.
Wade Miller had another successful rehab start on Thursday night: five scoreless innings against Scranton/Wilkes Barre. He allowed five hits (two of them infield squibs) and two walks. He will make one more AAA start, Tuesday against Rochester, and then join the Red Sox. He could make his debut on May 8 against Seattle.
Every suspended Red Sock and Devil Ray was also fined $3,000, although Piniella's fine was knocked down to $2,500. Ortiz and Singleton were each fined $500.
In the Bronx, both Roy Halladay and Randy Johnson pitched complete games last night, as Toronto won 2-0 in a zippy 2:08. The Yankees are 9-14, only the second time during Joe Torre's tenure the team has been five games below .500 (they were 5-10 on April 17, 1997).
Bronson Arroyo / Pedro Astacio at 8:00.
April 29, 2005
"Yankee Bob" Has Spoken
Unless appealed, all suspensions begin tonight.
It all seems a bit much to me (especially the fines to Tiz and Singleton), though I realize the length of Arroyo's and Brazelton's suspensions are to guarantee they each miss a start.
One lesson I learned today:
The above six were also fined an undisclosed amount of money, as were David Ortiz and Chris Singleton.Terry Francona 3 games
Bronson Arroyo 6 games
Trot Nixon 2 games
Lou Piniella 3 games
Dewon Brazelton 5 games
Lance Carter 5 games
It all seems a bit much to me (especially the fines to Tiz and Singleton), though I realize the length of Arroyo's and Brazelton's suspensions are to guarantee they each miss a start.
One lesson I learned today:
Yell at, and take maybe four steps towards, a pitcher who threw deliberately at your head = A fineThanks, Bob.
Get brushed by a fan (maybe) while fielding a ball and, before throwing the ball back to the infield, turn and try to punch that fan with both hands = No fine (and be showered with praise for your restraint)
Boston Herald Predictions
Thanks to a fellow SoSH member, I now have the Globe and Herald from the day after the Opening Day Ring Ceremonies. And in the Herald, I found the sportswriters' predictions:
AL EAST WILD CARD NL CHAMP WS CHAMPAll four writers picked the Twins in the Central and the Angels in the West. Horrigan picked the Twins to win the AL pennant.
Massarotti Yankees Red Sox Atlanta Yankees
Buckley Yankees Red Sox Atlanta Red Sox
Horrigan Yankees Red Sox Atlanta Atlanta
Silverman Yankees Red Sox Marlins Yankees
April 28, 2005
Why I Spent $10.50 To See Fever Pitch
Jimmy Fallon was supposed to be reading my book in bed at the beginning of one scene (#91, actually), right after the "fingers-in-my-ears-so-I-don't-hear-the-Red-Sox-score" scene with Drew Barrymore's parents. ... That scene didn't make the final cut. Boo.
However, I did see the book twice: (1) across the room on Fallon's night table early in the movie and (2) on his dresser in the scene after Barrymore calls him from Paris saying she is not pregnant (the book is in the lower left of the screen, though you can't read the actual words on the cover).
What else can I tell you?
FP is a formulaic romantic comedy. I chuckled at two or three of the lines, but I'll be damned if I can remember them now. Fenway Park is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and seeing game footage from non-traditional angles was cool. The game that prompts the main characters' relationship crisis didn't actually happen, which was bad, because there is a fair amount of actual 2004 game footage in the movie. (Of course, only certifiable Red Sox fans would notice.)
Couldn't one of the season-ticket-holding fans have said that the Curse is bullshit, since most serious Red Sox fans believe that? Barrymore's character has a really cute dog, but she has a non-stop work schedule, so who walks it?
My advice? Wait for the DVD.
However, I did see the book twice: (1) across the room on Fallon's night table early in the movie and (2) on his dresser in the scene after Barrymore calls him from Paris saying she is not pregnant (the book is in the lower left of the screen, though you can't read the actual words on the cover).
What else can I tell you?
FP is a formulaic romantic comedy. I chuckled at two or three of the lines, but I'll be damned if I can remember them now. Fenway Park is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and seeing game footage from non-traditional angles was cool. The game that prompts the main characters' relationship crisis didn't actually happen, which was bad, because there is a fair amount of actual 2004 game footage in the movie. (Of course, only certifiable Red Sox fans would notice.)
Couldn't one of the season-ticket-holding fans have said that the Curse is bullshit, since most serious Red Sox fans believe that? Barrymore's character has a really cute dog, but she has a non-stop work schedule, so who walks it?
My advice? Wait for the DVD.
Who Starts Tuesday?
"It never fails," Terry Francona said. "Whenever you think you have enough pitching or too much pitching, you're probably fooling yourself."
Tim Wakefield, Bronson Arroyo and Matt Clement will pitch in Texas and John Halama will start Monday in Detroit. The question is who gets the ball on Tuesday. There's not a consensus in the papers and an announcement is expected later today.
Most reports tap Jeremi Gonzalez, who has started for the Cubs and Devil Rays. Gonzalez threw six innings (one run, three hits) on Tuesday. It could be Lenny DiNardo, who threw five scoreless innings for Pawtucket before being recalled. Abe Alvarez has an outside shot. ... The Red Sox will (wisely) stay with twelve pitchers.
Devil Rays reliever Trever Miller jumps into the Piniella-Schilling spat: "You couldn't hear anybody else over Schilling [yapping during the bench-clearing incidents]. He was berating our manager, our ownership, all the way to our waterboys. He was kind of contradicting himself yelling at us and telling us how to play the game when he's going out there stirring the pot and being immature about it. So I find that ironic and pretty sad, especially for a guy that has all that time in the game."
Keith Foulke wants more work. "I could talk until I'm blue in the face. I'm physically healthy. I've got no excuses. I need to pitch three or four times a week. ... I feel great. My shoulder feels incredible. ... You guys see the playoffs last year? You guys remember how I talked all last year about the more I pitch the better I am. Any more questions?"
Francona agrees. "I think his past history is we do use him frequently. The last three days in Tampa Bay some crazy things happened. He'll pitch a lot. He's better when he pitches. We know that." ... With Halama and an AAA arm starting over the next few weeks, the pen should be plenty busy.
Off to see Fever Pitch today.
Tim Wakefield, Bronson Arroyo and Matt Clement will pitch in Texas and John Halama will start Monday in Detroit. The question is who gets the ball on Tuesday. There's not a consensus in the papers and an announcement is expected later today.
Most reports tap Jeremi Gonzalez, who has started for the Cubs and Devil Rays. Gonzalez threw six innings (one run, three hits) on Tuesday. It could be Lenny DiNardo, who threw five scoreless innings for Pawtucket before being recalled. Abe Alvarez has an outside shot. ... The Red Sox will (wisely) stay with twelve pitchers.
Devil Rays reliever Trever Miller jumps into the Piniella-Schilling spat: "You couldn't hear anybody else over Schilling [yapping during the bench-clearing incidents]. He was berating our manager, our ownership, all the way to our waterboys. He was kind of contradicting himself yelling at us and telling us how to play the game when he's going out there stirring the pot and being immature about it. So I find that ironic and pretty sad, especially for a guy that has all that time in the game."
Keith Foulke wants more work. "I could talk until I'm blue in the face. I'm physically healthy. I've got no excuses. I need to pitch three or four times a week. ... I feel great. My shoulder feels incredible. ... You guys see the playoffs last year? You guys remember how I talked all last year about the more I pitch the better I am. Any more questions?"
Francona agrees. "I think his past history is we do use him frequently. The last three days in Tampa Bay some crazy things happened. He'll pitch a lot. He's better when he pitches. We know that." ... With Halama and an AAA arm starting over the next few weeks, the pen should be plenty busy.
Off to see Fever Pitch today.
April 27, 2005
69 Hours To Stew
This afternoon's game with Baltimore was rained out. It will not be made up on the off-day tomorrow, so from the last out Tuesday to the first pitch in Texas on Friday, there will be a gap of sixty-nine hours with no Red Sox baseball. Lots of time to figure out the starting rotation for the next few weeks.
Curt Schilling knew something was wrong with his ankle when he threw a pitch to Travis Lee during the sixth inning on Saturday. Lee looked at two strikes and then hit a two-run double that gave Tampa its 6-5 margin of victory. "The ankle bone was just not ready to take the force I put on it the other day. ... [T]here was a very legitimate possibility that we could break the bone and the season would be done."
What makes very little sense is that after Lee's double, Schilling stayed in the game and threw 21 more pitches, finishing the sixth and pitching the seventh. Also, Schilling says, "I think it was the hardest pitch I had thrown all year, and I was really trying to reach back and throw the ball." Does that mean that he'd been holding back, afraid to really test the ankle?
Red Sox medical director Thomas Gill said Wells "will benefit from a period of rest and rehabilitation. Currently, there is no exact time frame for his return [Francona was quoted as saying 4-6 weeks]. We expect him to be able to maintain his fitness activities and baseball training throughout the period of his rehab." Fitness activities?
Fun With Numbers: Last night's crowd of 35,670 was the largest for a regular season game at Fenway Park since September 28, 1990. ... The last time the Red Sox allowed 20 hits was July 24, 2003, when the Devil Rays had 21. ... Keith Foulke has allowed 20 base runners in nine appearances, covering 10 innings. His ERA ballooned to 7.20.
Heh:
Curt Schilling knew something was wrong with his ankle when he threw a pitch to Travis Lee during the sixth inning on Saturday. Lee looked at two strikes and then hit a two-run double that gave Tampa its 6-5 margin of victory. "The ankle bone was just not ready to take the force I put on it the other day. ... [T]here was a very legitimate possibility that we could break the bone and the season would be done."
What makes very little sense is that after Lee's double, Schilling stayed in the game and threw 21 more pitches, finishing the sixth and pitching the seventh. Also, Schilling says, "I think it was the hardest pitch I had thrown all year, and I was really trying to reach back and throw the ball." Does that mean that he'd been holding back, afraid to really test the ankle?
Red Sox medical director Thomas Gill said Wells "will benefit from a period of rest and rehabilitation. Currently, there is no exact time frame for his return [Francona was quoted as saying 4-6 weeks]. We expect him to be able to maintain his fitness activities and baseball training throughout the period of his rehab." Fitness activities?
Fun With Numbers: Last night's crowd of 35,670 was the largest for a regular season game at Fenway Park since September 28, 1990. ... The last time the Red Sox allowed 20 hits was July 24, 2003, when the Devil Rays had 21. ... Keith Foulke has allowed 20 base runners in nine appearances, covering 10 innings. His ERA ballooned to 7.20.
Heh:
Schilling: When you're playing a team with a manager who somehow forgot how the game is played, there's problems. ... Lou's trying to make his team be a bunch of tough guys, and the telling sign is when the players on that team are saying, 'This is why we lose a hundred games a year, because this idiot makes us do stuff like this.' They were saying this on the field.No shit, Lou. None of your players are going on the record calling you an idiot.
Piniella: I think he should just concern himself with pitching and not worry about what other managers do or don't do. ... I know exactly how the game should be played, and why. Quite frankly, I'm disappointed in his comments, very disappointed in his comments. ... Go talk to the players. I don't think they'd say that. I know you wouldn't get one to say that.
This Is No Good
Curt Schilling (7.13 ERA) will join David Wells on the disabled list. He'll miss at least two weeks with a bruised right ankle.
It's the same ankle he had surgery on this winter, but Theo Epstein said the current bruising was higher on the ankle and may not be related.
It's the same ankle he had surgery on this winter, but Theo Epstein said the current bruising was higher on the ankle and may not be related.
April 26, 2005
G21: Orioles 11, Red Sox 8
Shit. Matt Clement couldn't hold leads of 5-1 and 8-3, allowing 12 hits and seven runs in 4.2 innings. Melvin Mora and Miguel Tejada each had four hits. Keith Foulke, entrusted with an 8-7 lead in the eighth, coughed it up, allowing two two-run home runs before getting a second out.
Baltimore starter Rodrigo Lopez was not much better than Clement. He had allowed only five earned runs in his last four starts combined against Boston. He gave up that many runs in the second inning. But his teammates got him off the hook.
Manny Ramirez had three hits and five RBI for Boston, including a line drive three-run home run into the Monster seats that chased Lopez, but a quarter of Orioles relievers shut the Sox out after the fourth inning. Johnny Damon remained hot, with two doubles, and Bill Mueller, back in the lineup, reached base three times in five trips.
The Orioles hold a three-game lead over the Red Sox in the East. Wakefield goes in a 1:00 game Wednesday afternoon.
Baltimore starter Rodrigo Lopez was not much better than Clement. He had allowed only five earned runs in his last four starts combined against Boston. He gave up that many runs in the second inning. But his teammates got him off the hook.
Manny Ramirez had three hits and five RBI for Boston, including a line drive three-run home run into the Monster seats that chased Lopez, but a quarter of Orioles relievers shut the Sox out after the fourth inning. Johnny Damon remained hot, with two doubles, and Bill Mueller, back in the lineup, reached base three times in five trips.
The Orioles hold a three-game lead over the Red Sox in the East. Wakefield goes in a 1:00 game Wednesday afternoon.
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